Czech paddler Ondrej Tunka returns to New Zealand for the first time since winning the Whitewater XL title in Auckland in 2016 for this weekend’s New Zealand Open in the Manawatu. Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media

World champion Ondrej Tunka will highlight the opening event of the international canoe slalom year, joining athletes from seven countries at the New Zealand Open on the Mangahao River near Palmerston North.

Leading the women’s field will be Tunka’s compatriot Katerina Kudejova, who won the 2015 world championships in London in the K1. Olympic silver medalist and top Kiwi Luuka Jones, 13th at the last world championships, will try and defend her K1 title, with another Czech, Veronika Vojtova, capping a strong top-three.

Jones will also line up in the women’s C1, alongside fellow Kiwi Kelly Travers, who beat her last year.

There is guaranteed to be a new champion in the men’s C1 event, with defending champion Frenchman Thibault Blaise not entering this year.

Kiwi Ben Gibb was third last year and will back his chances of taking top spot on the podium this year, as will Kiwi Patrick Washer.

The New Zealand Open carries ICF ranking points and will be used as a New Zealand selection event, as well as a buildup for next week’s Oceania championships in Auckland.